Feelin’ Fine Recap
The Feelin’ Fine EP is out in the world.
It sounds like y’all are digging the tunes.
And it makes me glad.
I do not have social media, so I need your help spreading this music. Let’s make word of mouth great again.
Share the record directly with any friends, family, colleagues that you think would enjoy the music. Text it directly to them. Jam it with your windows down. Add it to your playlists.
I’d also love to hear the ways in which you listen to them – fixing dinner, driving home from work, drinking a cold one by the pool.
Please, let me know at caswell.lee.orr@gmail.com. Or you can reply directly to this letter.
The Songs Survive
The songs on this record have gone through a lot. They persevered for over three years until finally making themselves known in the world as you hear them today.
They traveled the country in my head and on scraps of paper.
They were taken advantage of in Nashville.
They survived my insecurity.
I mentioned at the beginning of the Feelin’ Fine campaign trail how I was afraid to share the songs with the world – with you. I constantly doubted them, wondering if they were any good or not. I desperately sought some kind of validation from someone, anyone – “these are the best songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life!”
I cared too much about what other people thought. And the fear of someone not liking the music controlled me. In other words, I wrapped up my identity in the songs, which made me very fragile. And stifled the songs.
Despite my doubts and insecurities, the songs survived.
I continually felt compelled to play them – in the corner of a bar; a living room; by a campfire.
For some reason, deep down, whether anyone said anything positive or negative about them, I liked them enough to keep playing them.
For over three years I kept playing them.
I liked them enough to start a fundraising campaign and record them in a studio.
And I love what I hear now.
It’s a testament to the songs, more than anything.
They are honest and their sentiment is true. They attempt to put you in the driver’s seat and take what’s coming at you in stride.
And the music is just fun at the end of the day. The songs pulled some cool music out of some great musicians during the recording sessions.
And they would not exist as they do now without the community of people that surrounds them.
Thank you to everyone directly involved in making these songs come to life.
So, what’s next?
I’m forming a band to play live shows. This is already underway. I met with a keys player yesterday.
The idea is to perform around Austin to get mine and the band’s chops up. And maybe open for some cool acts coming through town if we can grab their attention.
Then eventually venture out of Austin as the audience grows (that’s where you come in).
But I’m not entirely sure how this will all play out. All I’m certain of now is that I need a band.
So that is where I am starting.
I also enjoy writing these letters. I plan to stick to a bi-weekly rhythm. I’ll continue to keep y’all updated on my musical endeavors while sharing what’s going on in my head.
There are a couple main themes I’d like to continue to process – identity being one of them.
Is there anything specific you would enjoy reading that I should write about? Would you like to know what I’m reading or what my favorite color is? Please, let me know.
Lastly, I continue to write songs and fine tune existing ones. There are many more where this came from, so stay tuned.
Until next time,
CLO
